Andrew Hamilton has snagged one of ultrarunning’s most esteemed — and admittedly obscure — pinnacles: the fastest known time for the Nolan’s 14, a challenge that requires traversing 14 summits higher than 14,000 feet in Colorado’s Sawatch Range in under 60 hours.

The bigger surprise: He did it entirely unsupported by a crew or pacers, relying only on food and supplies he carried in his 19-pound backpack.

Hamilton, a 40-year-old father of four from Denver, ended his Nolan’s journey of 53 hours, 39 minutes at 12:44 p.m. Tuesday at the Leadville Fish Hatchery. He broke a 13-year-old record by more than an hour.

He started at 7:05 a.m. Sunday at Blank Cabin at the base of Mount Shavano and covered around 100 miles — the exact distance isn’t known — climbing 44,000 feet in the process. Not bad for a guy who last year missed the 60-hour cutoff by 19 minutes.

At the finish, he was met by two people, a scene far different from the one in the wee hours of July 9, when he was met by dozens who had gathered to celebrate his 14er speed record. This time, the welcome wagon included a family friend and a guy who had heard about his attempt and wanted to give him a lift back to the starting line to his car.

“My wife was looking at the weather,” Hamilton said of his decision to attempt it, “and she saw it was going to be three days of good weather, and she said, ‘You have to go do Nolan’s.'”

The next morning, he was off.

For Hamilton, familiarity with the trails and the flexible schedule of being a stay-at-home father proved vital. During last year’s attempt, he lost time on the final descent to the trailhead and missed the cutoff.

His pace was steady, an average of just more than two miles per hour, according to the DeLorme tracking device that allowed others to follow his journey.

Hamilton avoided sleep and rest, stopping only to purify water and for “sleep” — closing his eyes for a few minutes while lying in the middle of the trail. His pack — seven pounds without food or water — included a rain jacket, hat, gloves, and two headlamps — one as a backup that he ended up needing — a small aid kit for blisters and an ultraviolet light to purify water quickly. His “food” consisted of a granola bar he stashed away on his way out the door and some powder he mixed with purified water into a handful of bottles. Left behind were a sleeping bag and sleeping pad (too bulky).

The challenge’s inherent lack of structure adds more intrigue: Those attempting have no set route or even direction, which inspires creativity and spontaneity. Runners can train and survey terrain, choosing a route that best fits their strengths. The only requirement: Get to the top of all 14 peaks in under 60 hours.

Oregon’s John Robinson held the previous record, set in 2002 on a similar route, in 54:57.

“It’s really nice to see someone finally do it,” Robinson, 49, said from Portland, Ore. “He’s such a nice guy. It’s just really impressive that it was unsupported.”

“What I found hardest — the two night sections you do,” Robinson continued. “It’s hard to know how to navigate that in the dark. There are lots of races you’re going on trail. But here, you’re bushwhacking through the brush at night, climbing up scree. It’s much harder than doing it on a trail — just mentally in the dark out there by yourself.”

Hamilton is the third successful completion of the Nolan’s 14 this year. Anna Frost — this year’s winner of the Hardrock 100 — along with Missy Gosney, became the first two women to complete the challenge, from Aug. 16-18. But their record has not been without controversy: Both stopped and celebrated at the summit of Mount Shavano, not the trailhead below. The debate underscores the still unclear nature of rule-setting for fastest known times. Is the route finished at the top, or at the trailhead? There is no governing body for the sports of ultrarunning and these kinds of efforts, which aren’t organized events and can be attempted by anyone.

“I was actually secretly hoping that I could make it in 50 hours to the top. It’s probably silly. I still missed it by an hour and a half,” Hamilton said. “I secretly thought that was possible. But after my first night, I just wasn’t going fast enough.”

The challenges of the Nolan’s 14 are many. Those who attempt it face rocky, challenging terrain and steep climbs in some of the remotest parts of the state. Fickle weather is a constant hazard, especially during the summer monsoon season. Potentially dangerous wildlife is another: He encountered a mountain lion in the dead of night on Mount Yale — its eyes illuminated by his headlamp — and later a bear along the trail.

The lack of sleep for some 60 hours is another. “I was really worried about the nights because it’s hard to predict how your body is going to handle nights without sleep,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton’s years of adventure racing a decade ago have prepared him for his summer of success. Hamilton can keep his progress steady through days without serious rest.

“Just laying down on the trail and closing your eyes for a minute,” Hamilton said, “it can actually make a big difference when you’re hurting.”

Digital Director of Audience Development for Digital First Media, the parent company of The Denver Post. He is a former senior editor, director of audience development, digital director of sports and social media editor at The Post.

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